HAPPO Chat Recap: Tips to Rock Your Summer Internship

Yesterday was my very first time moderating a Twitter chat. I’ve been a long-time Twitter chat participant (been chatting it up since about 2008, old school), but I never took the plunge into moderating. It was so much fun! Why? Because of the enthusiasm and overall great conversation of the participants. The topic? Tips to Rock Your Summer Internship for the #HAPPO chat.
Some highlights:
On what you can do in the first few days of your internship that can make a great impression:

• “If they don’t give you an internship job description and/or goals, volunteer to work with them to develop.” – @KellyeCrane
• “This is your career, come to work everyday as though it was your permanent position. Many of our ACs started as our intern.” – @AbbieF

On what else students can do to get experience if they don’t have an internship this summer:

• “Most nonprofits need PR help & will gladly accept your services. Also, job shadow!” – @nikki_little
• “If you didn’t land a formal internship, make one up. Volunteer for a nonprofit, government group or event.” – @SydneyAyers

On ideal qualifications students can pull from their internships for their resumes:

• “Try to take away some biz results you played a part in generating. Always impressive.” – @arikhanson
• ”Self-starter, able to manage multiple projects at one time, solid research and writing experience.” – @sjplatte

Internship Opps:

• “Lots of AMAZING internships at my company, @2tor, in NYC and MD. Check ’em out: http://2tor.com/careers” – @ericajmoss
• “PR Intern at Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, FL http://footballjobs.teamworkonline.com/teamwork/r.cfm?i=44448” – @dr_tindall
• “American Cancer Society needs #pr / #marketing internshttp://bit.ly/IoXI1z”  – @MarketJobsUSA
• “College grads looking for internships, Beehive is hiring an intern mid-summer for a 6 mo. PAID position. Info @ http://is.gd/zK3gqj” – @beehivepr

The overall takeaway of the chat was this: You have to WANT it, to make it. If you show up early and eager every day to your internship, ready to take it all in and even tackle projects on your own (sometimes without being asked), then you’re going to succeed. Whether it’s volunteering for a non-profit, or interning at an agency, paid or unpaid, your enthusiasm and hard work will shine if you let it.
Wanna view the whole transcript? It’s below (there are a LOT of pages since this is an ongoing hashtag, but lots of great stuff in there, including more tweets of job openings). Good luck to all interns this summer! ROCK IT.

Image source.